Gallipoli

The Gallipoli Peninsula (Gelibolu in Turkish) juts southwestward between the Dardanelles strait and the Aegean Sea. In 1915, Allied forces — primarily British, Australian, New Zealand, and French troops — attempted to seize the strait and open a sea route to Russia. The eight-month campaign that followed resulted in over 470,000 casualties on both sides and ended in Allied withdrawal. For Turkey, the defence of Gallipoli became a defining moment of national identity, closely associated with Mustafa Kemal (later Atatürk), who commanded the Ottoman forces at critical junctures.

For Australia and New Zealand, the ANZAC landing on 25 April 1915 remains the most significant date in their military histories. The peninsula is now a national park, and the battlefields, cemeteries, and memorials have become sites of pilgrimage for visitors from Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Britain, France, and Ireland.

When to Visit

Spring (April through June) is the most meaningful and comfortable season. The ANZAC Day dawn service on 25 April draws thousands of visitors from around the world. Wildflowers cover the peninsula in April and May. Autumn (September through October) is quieter and still pleasant. Summer is hot and dry, with limited shade on the exposed ridgelines.

How to Get There

The nearest airport is Çanakkale Troia Airport (CKZ), about an hour’s drive from the battlefields. Alternatively, Istanbul Atatürk or Istanbul Airport connect to Çanakkale via domestic flights or to Eceabat via bus (approximately 5 hours). A short ferry crosses the Dardanelles between Çanakkale and Eceabat, placing you at the southern end of the peninsula. The battlefields are spread across the peninsula and require a car or guided tour to cover efficiently.

What to See

ANZAC Cove and Arıburnu

The small beach where the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps landed before dawn on 25 April 1915. The steep terrain and immediate Turkish counterattack pinned the landing force into a narrow beachhead. A memorial wall at ANZAC Cove carries Atatürk’s 1934 words addressed to the mothers of fallen soldiers — a passage widely known in Australia and New Zealand.

Lone Pine

The site of one of the fiercest close-quarter battles of the campaign, fought over three days in August 1915 in a trench system barely wider than a room. Seven Victoria Crosses were awarded for actions here. The Lone Pine Cemetery and Memorial contains the names of over 4,900 Australian soldiers with no known grave.

Chunuk Bair (Conkbayırı)

The summit that New Zealand forces briefly captured on 8 August 1915 before being driven back by a counterattack personally led by Mustafa Kemal. A New Zealand memorial and a Turkish monument mark the ridge. The view from the top looks down over the entire ANZAC sector and the Dardanelles beyond.

The Nek

A narrow saddle of land where the Australian Light Horsemen charged into Ottoman machine-gun fire on 7 August 1915. The distance from the Australian trench to the Turkish line was less than 30 metres. The event was depicted in Peter Weir’s 1981 film Gallipoli.

Turkish Memorials and Şehitler Abidesi

The Çanakkale Martyrs’ Memorial (Şehitler Abidesi), at the southern tip of the peninsula, stands 41 metres tall and commemorates the estimated 253,000 Turkish soldiers who died defending the strait. The 57th Regiment Memorial marks the position where Mustafa Kemal ordered his soldiers to stand and die rather than retreat, with the words: “I am not ordering you to attack. I am ordering you to die.”

Practical Information

The Gallipoli Historical National Park covers roughly 33,000 hectares. A guided half-day tour covers the ANZAC sites; a full day is needed to include the Cape Helles sector at the tip of the peninsula. The Kabatepe War Museum near ANZAC Cove provides context with maps, uniforms, weapons, and personal items recovered from the battlefields. The town of Eceabat serves as the most convenient base, while Çanakkale across the strait offers more accommodation options.

One Thing Most Visitors Miss

Between the cemeteries and the memorials, on the ridgelines and gullies, the original trench lines remain visible — shallow depressions in the earth, now overgrown with scrub pine and wild thyme. Walking along them, you can see how close the opposing lines were. In places, less than ten metres separated the men.

The peninsula is quiet now. That is the point.